London Jewellery Schoolhttps://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk
Blog on jewellery making and inspirationMon, 11 Dec 2017 20:18:27 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/https://secure.gravatar.com/blavatar/e8b9b1fbf0dcc64cfab92a893e986fbe?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.wp.com%2Fi%2Fbuttonw-com.pngLondon Jewellery Schoolhttps://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk
Planning in Your Jewellery Business: FREE Download ‘My Jewellery Business Planner’ with Jessica Rosehttps://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/2017/12/11/planning-in-your-jewellery-business-free-download-my-jewellery-business-planner-with-jessica-rose/
https://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/2017/12/11/planning-in-your-jewellery-business-free-download-my-jewellery-business-planner-with-jessica-rose/#respondMon, 11 Dec 2017 20:16:00 +0000http://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/?p=7223]]>Hooray! We’re entering week 2 of our FREE ‘starting your jewellery business’ online course all about helping you to start your own successful jewellery business. It was wonderful to have so many of you join us last week, over 600 budding jewellers and we can’t wait to get going on this weeks content with you. If you haven’t signed up yet there’s still time to join us! Just register here

Week 2 is all about creating a plan for your business. We know you are busy and it’s Christmas so we don’t expect you to write a 20-page document! In the course, Jessica shares a simple 1-page plan for mapping out the key activities and areas of operation in your jewellery business. It is perfect for getting a snapshot of your business now and to identify any gaps to work on in the year ahead.

‘If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail’ – Benjamin Franklin

– We agree with him!

A business plan is crucial to help you plan your focus and actions in your business to ensure you are moving forward strategically rather than being caught up in busy-work. It helps identify the difference between the important and the urgent.

The course features video lessons, downloadable notes AND we’ll be providing support and answering your questions in our facebook group so do join us there now if you haven’t already!

As an added bonus Jessica Rose will be answering your jewellery business questions on a facebook live video each week. The next facebook live will be on Wednesday 13th December at 12 noon GMT so do add your questions here.

You can also watch her answering questions on last week’s facebook live here

Watch the video for week 2 where Jess talks you through all the sections of the planner and the questions you need to ask yourself.

Any questions for Jessica? Ask them here now so she can answer them live for you on Wednesday at 12 noon GMT on our Jewellery School Online facebook page. And don’t worry if you can’t watch live, the video will be available to watch on facebook after the recording.

We’d love you to join us for a FREE three-week online course to help you work through what you need to do to get started. Join Jessica Rose, our founding Director and award-winning jewellery entrepreneur, for our online course starting this week and get access to 3 video interactive lessons, downloadable notes PLUS we’ll be providing support and answering your questions in our facebook group with weekly facebook live sessions.

This is a great opportunity to gain tons of free support for your jewellery business, connect with other jewellers, gain inspiration for your next year in business and grow.

Jessica will be going live on our facebook group page each week on Wednesday at 12 noon GMT to answer your questions and give more insight into the week’s lesson. To take part sign up to the community facebook page at:

Jess’ top tips for starting a jewellery business. These tips help guide you to start preparing and thinking about your business and any areas you may need to work on or schedule to complete for your business.

Jess will guide you through an amazing business planning tool ‘My Jewellery Business Model’. Looking at your vision, customers, pricing, collections, suppliers and much more from a strategy viewpoint (sounds very formal but is super fun!). You can download your handy ‘Business Start-up Guide’ and work alongside to create a model for your dream handmade jewellery business.

Week 3 – Building a Brand for Your Jewellery Business (week commencing Mon 18th December 2017)

Now, more than ever, it is important to stand out as a recognisable jewellery brand. Jess covers the 5 key elements of your brand, how to create or develop them in your business with tasks and actionable steps to refine your core values and the visual elements of your brand. With the aim that the people who want to buy from you, are not only aware of your brand, but they covet and desire what you have to offer! Sounds great!

We will be working through the course with you over the coming weeks, sign up on the link below (click enrol now) to get started. You can watch the videos whenever is convenient for you and as many times as you like!

We look forward to working with you on your jewellery business over the coming three weeks!

]]>https://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/2017/12/04/join-us-for-a-free-online-course-start-your-jewellery-business/feed/0jewelleryschoolstart-a-jewellery-business-free-online-course-from-jewellery-school-onlineInternational Men’s Day-A man that can wear bling is a wonderful thinghttps://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/2017/11/19/international-mens-day-a-man-that-can-wear-bling-is-a-wonderful-thing/
https://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/2017/11/19/international-mens-day-a-man-that-can-wear-bling-is-a-wonderful-thing/#respondSun, 19 Nov 2017 14:28:21 +0000http://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/?p=7170]]>Men’s day is a funny thing. As a child if you asked on Mother’s or Father’s day when it would be children’s day, I am sure you got the same answer I did. It’s everyday dummy! (maybe minus the dummy-I’m sure you have lovely parents).

Ok, so I’m not saying that its men’s day every day and this is meant to be celebratory of 50% (rough and ever changing percentage) of the population after all. But this is by no means an equal world and one of those inequalities in my eyes is that men often get totally jipped in terms great jewellery. Very few can pull it off (or want to).

Please take this one with an extra pinch of salt as there are great jewellers out there making very wearable and desirable pieces for men, something rugged or simple will do the trick and a well-made wedding band is a glorious thing. Personally I like ‘man jewellery’ that doesn’t look like it’s made for a bloke, keeping the fun, colourful, bold or delicate possibilities that are available for women’s adornment. Surely all things should be fair in a love affair with bling.

No?! Well, when I make jewellery for a buddy, of either sex, I like to think about what they are into. This shell neckpiece by David Bielander featured in an exhibition at Gallery SO earlier this year appeals to me in that way:

Men like football, right?!

Here is Johnny Depp like a human Buckaroo, wearing whatever he wants and a tonne of it.

Is he/are you into fishing? Well Miansai could get him/you hooked on jewellery too with this simple slightly abstracted cuffy bangle. Similarly lluukk have really nailed it with their mangles (man bangle) for DIY lovers.

Yacine Challal, founder of Jewellery multi-brand Carre Y, is another dude who is wearing it all and having a ball.

And we can’t forget the true king of bling on this on this day, here with a lovely message about remembering to appreciate your mother, ahhhh.

So boys, if you are still not convinced that jewellery is for you (but why?!), maybe its time to make your mother something special on one of our courses.

Lil Adams is the London Jewellery School Sundays Studio Manager. Lil studied Fine Art in Leeds and lived in Melbourne before travelling about and settling in London. She now works at the British Architectural Library and enjoys making jewellery with found and natural objects and is shamelessly addicted to casting.

]]>https://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/2017/11/19/international-mens-day-a-man-that-can-wear-bling-is-a-wonderful-thing/feed/0jewelleryschooldb00004-football-gallery SOjohnny depp 1johnny depp 2Hook bangleYacine ChallalYacine Challal 2Market Research- a few tips for selling at craft fairshttps://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/2017/11/17/market-research-a-few-tips-for-selling-at-craft-fairs/
https://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/2017/11/17/market-research-a-few-tips-for-selling-at-craft-fairs/#respondFri, 17 Nov 2017 09:55:40 +0000http://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/?p=7067]]>So I recently did my first craft fair. Scary stuff eh?, but whilst panicking that I may have nothing to sell I managed to pick up some helpful hints from around the jewellery school.

Helen told me to bear in mind the amount of money people would want to spend at the type of fair I was selling at, as it was in a pub, it would probably be less than or around £30. Annie’s titbit was to always leave enough time to set up, as it will take longer than you think. I asked Penny for advice on hallmarking when selling silver, items under 7.7g are ok without, however it’s best to check with the Assay office if in doubt and their downloadable regulations can be found on the website.

Sophie gave me her own top five:

1-bring scissors and a pen

2-make sure you pack your car/boxes/stock the night before so you can wake up and go

3-try and display a variety of things and price ranges, have cheaper (under £10 pieces) so that you have something for everyone

4- think about your display, place your best and most interesting pieces at eye level, then cheaper ‘add on’ stuff right at the front on the stall for impulse purchasing

5-stand up and engage with people, but don’t be creepy and too pushy

From reading previous posts-link to posts- practice runs, know what you have got, know how you want it to look, know any gaps in your product range. Be ready to learn from what happens on the day. Talk to any friends that sell in this way, they will all have different helpful experiences or they may even lend you a card machine. Also don’t forget the value of the experience you will gain by giving this a go; it will give you more of idea about which pieces get interest if not sell like hot cakes. I learnt that it is essential not to file your nails down to nubs before needing to wrap items with little stickers, it’s an edge finding nightmare.

Lil Adams is the London Jewellery School Sundays Studio Manager. Lil studied Fine Art in Leeds and lived in Melbourne before travelling about and settling in London. She now works at the British Architectural Library and enjoys making jewellery with found and natural objects and is shamelessly addicted to casting.

]]>https://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/2017/11/17/market-research-a-few-tips-for-selling-at-craft-fairs/feed/0jewelleryschool21985277_118651182137930_5863719691595284480_nNovember Birthstones-Citrine and Topaz-a tragic love for a play on wordshttps://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/2017/11/06/november-birthstones-citrine-and-topaz-a-tragic-love-for-a-play-on-words/
https://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/2017/11/06/november-birthstones-citrine-and-topaz-a-tragic-love-for-a-play-on-words/#respondMon, 06 Nov 2017 14:16:46 +0000http://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/?p=7190]]>Topaz and Citrine are hot stones to keep you November babies warm if you choose to stand on balconies to watch any fireworks or family feuds unfold.

Sometimes misidentified as each other in their yellow form, Citrine is a yellow variety of quartz and Topaz is a silicate mineral and a more valuable gemstone. Topaz can display similar strength to corundum (the gem family that includes Ruby and Sapphire) but can fracture under excessive pressure. To add to the confusion Amethyst, after heat treatment, can be turned yellow masquerading as Citrine in disguise. These ‘burnt amethysts’ or artificial Citrines can be identified by a tinge of red. Citrine can be found in a range of yellow to dark reddy/brown shades. While Topaz has a wider colour palate of yellow, green, pink, orange and the rare blue with its purest form occurring as a colourless stone.

Two gemstones, both alike in clarity, in fair November where we lay our scene.

Many a jeweller tells their own story of love for these gems, though with the potential mistaken identity, the makers’ tale doesn’t have to have to have a Shakespearean tragic ending.

Earrings and ring in Citrine by Chris Boland. With his bold yet transparent technique of setting, what you see is what you get and what you get is a neat treat.

The honey coloured hexagonal topaz formations for this Alexander McQueen beehive cuff would make any worker feel like a queen.

Ryan Nelson has pincered an icy blue Topaz in place at opposite corners to look create this industrially striking ring. Whereas this roughly set pink topaz ring with rose gold from by Angeline has a softer appearance.

Please excuse one last attempt at wordy theatricals for these two heroes of our romantic tale, if I conclude with…

Never was a story of more glow than this of Citrine and Topaz(eo).

If you feel like these gems in any other frame should surely be as sweet, try one of our stone setting courses.

]]>https://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/2017/11/06/november-birthstones-citrine-and-topaz-a-tragic-love-for-a-play-on-words/feed/0jewelleryschoolCitrine_Earring_22May15c.boland-citrine-ring-jewelry-artbee cuff amqtopaz ring ryan nelsonpink topaz ringFree online course – make a stone set ringhttps://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/2017/11/01/free-online-course-make-a-stone-set-ring/
https://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/2017/11/01/free-online-course-make-a-stone-set-ring/#respondWed, 01 Nov 2017 18:18:27 +0000http://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/?p=7154]]>Did you know that as well as our classes in London we also have online courses you can enrol on? Jewellery School Online is perfect for those who can’t get to our courses in London or those who want a refresher of techniques that they can learn from home. Our online courses feature videos you can watch as many times as you’d like as well as notes you can download and use alongside your practice. Check out all the online courses we have available.

Perfect for beginners and those new to stone setting – you will be guided through how to prepare a ring blank and pre-made bezel cup setting, solder them together and set a stone of your choice. All of this can be done with a few tools and materials from your kitchen table

If you are new to stone setting this is a great project which is quick, simple and extremely rewarding. You will make some beautiful finished pieces whilst learning the basics of stone setting. If you would like to learn more advanced techniques such as how to create your own settings from scratch sign up for our course ‘Stone Setting in Silver‘ or to learn to make your own silver rings and pendants see The Silver Jewellery Workshop

For those that are itching to learn more, we also have a pre-sale offer of 50% off our next online course that will be released on 2nd December 2017 – stone setting in silver. Here tutor Rebecca Steiner takes you through the three stone setting techniques that we cover in our 2-day class at the London Jewellery School – tube setting, cabochon and flush or gypsy setting.

What will you get with this course?

Lifetime access to 6 comprehensive video lessons, guiding you through all the techniques, tips and tricks to perfecting your stone setting

Downloadable course notes to work alongside the videos

Access to our supportive community of jewellers and tutors to help you at every stage of the process

Access to the videos 24/7 – you can stop, pause, rewind and replay as much as you like

Excellent close-up shots to see what is happening in each step so you don’t miss a thing

The course will be £99 when it is released but sign up before 2nd December 2017 and you can take advantage of the pre-sale price of 50% off – just £49.50!

]]>https://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/2017/11/01/free-online-course-make-a-stone-set-ring/feed/0jewelleryschoolstone-set-ring-online-course-jewellery-school-onlinestone-setting-in-silver-online-course-jewellery-school-onlinestone-setting-online-course-jewellery-school-onlineJewels for Halloween – It’s a kind of magichttps://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/2017/10/25/jewels-for-halloween-its-a-kind-of-magic/
https://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/2017/10/25/jewels-for-halloween-its-a-kind-of-magic/#respondWed, 25 Oct 2017 10:08:57 +0000http://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/?p=7075]]>Halloween in the Adams Family household was never a small Thing, my personal style may have gone from Cousin Itt to Pugsley in the last 25 years but my enthusiasm for this dubious holiday has not wavered. So in the spirit of celebration of the unknown and creepy, we can also embrace the magical and mysterious and even some veg to bring us back down to earth.

This year there has been an appearance of magical, mystical motifs on the catwalks and looking beyond the stars and moons there are otherworldly delights to be found.

Chanel A/W 2017

Shelley James makes 3D printed and cast glass sculptures from her base in Cockpit Studios. These pieces, some of which can be worn as necklaces, change colour in different light conditions.

There are some more traditionally spooky treats to bewitch us too, like this beautiful bat out of the blue ring by Lydia Courteille.

These cheeky eight-legged freaks have got their fangs into some of Alexander McQueen’s signature skulls.

It doesn’t take Halloween to get under your skin to use skulls as a way to get a-head with your jewellery designs. Susan Elanora uses this as a regular motif for her cute and creepy jewellery. And our tutors Natasha Williams and Sophie Arnott have also used the skull as a reference in their work.

Natasha has used Computer Aided Design and 3d printing in wax to get to create this angular cranial knuckle duster in silver.

While Sophie has favoured engraving for this silver signet ring.

I am growing to love Halloween even more since discovering that its roots are in harvest festival traditions. I have a great appreciation of vegetable jewellery. The pumpkin may be the go-to-veg for these times but this pumpkin coloured Romanesco cauliflower brooch by Barbara Paganin (AKA Space Cauliflower, usually the unearthly colour of Slimer from Ghostbusters) from the epic collections at the V&A is just what the witch doctor ordered.

Don’t let your creepy creations (Uncle) Fester indoors, here are a few magical, curious or kooky things to see and do over at this frightful time of year:

Harry Potter- A History of Magic Exhibition at The British Library. Until Wednesday 28th February.

Screening of The Addams Family with orchestral accompaniment at The Royal Albert Hall. Thursday 26th October.

Halloween Fair at the Horniman Museum, Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 October 2017.

Or Go(mez) wild and book onto one of our magical courses to get that memento mori made.

Lil Adams is the London Jewellery School Sundays Studio Manager. Lil studied Fine Art in Leeds and lived in Melbourne before travelling about and settling in London. She now works at the British Architectural Library and enjoys making jewellery with found and natural objects and is shamelessly addicted to casting.

]]>https://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/2017/10/25/jewels-for-halloween-its-a-kind-of-magic/feed/0jewelleryschooldouble-necklace-latest-jewelry-trends-for-fall-winter-2017-chanel-london-jewellery-school-blogShelley-James-jewellery-london-jewellery-school-blogLydia-Courteille,-bat-ring-london-jewellery-school-blogalexander-mcqueen-earrings-london-jewellery-school-blogAfro-Deco-skull-ring-london-jewellery-school-blogSophie-Arnott-Skull-Ring-london-jewellery-school-blogbarbara-paganin-london-jewellery-school-blog-halloweenBirthstones for October-Opal and Tourmaline-Fruity favouriteshttps://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/2017/10/16/birthstones-for-october-opal-and-tourmaline-fruity-favourites/
https://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/2017/10/16/birthstones-for-october-opal-and-tourmaline-fruity-favourites/#respondMon, 16 Oct 2017 16:07:15 +0000http://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/?p=7043]]>If you are born in October you are peace loving characters who wish to be surrounded by beauty. So it’s fitting that your birthstones are the ones with magical rainbow shades, Opal and Tourmaline.

Tourmaline is best known for its green and pink shades but it is the gemstone found in the greatest range of colours. The watermelon effect of the stones that present with two-in-one colouration are clearly the most delicious. Here they are celebrated together, although not as one, nestled in these stunning orbs by master jeweller Friedrich Becker.

The internal structure of an opal causes multi-coloured light diffractions to occur and these characteristic rainbow effects can be found in stones of very different tones too. For jewellers it is both an inspirational friend and technical foe with its softness and tendency to expand and contract according to temperature fluctuations. This makes it a very difficult stone to work with.

Kimberlin Brown uses opal to very different effect in her work that references nature and organic forms. As we can see here in these two rings, the delicate ‘anemone’ contrasts with the intergalactic beast ‘galaxy’ without sacrificing her signature style.

October child, whatever your flavour, you won’t fail to find a tempting juicy delight in one these fruity pieces using these dynamic stones. But be sure to give one, or five, of our classes a try if you feel the need for more jewellery nutrition.

]]>https://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/2017/10/16/birthstones-for-october-opal-and-tourmaline-fruity-favourites/feed/0jewelleryschooltourmalineopal anemone kimNEW_3_Opal_slimA reminder that creativity is good for your mental health on World Mental Health Dayhttps://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/2017/10/10/a-reminder-that-creativity-is-good-for-your-mental-health-on-world-mental-health-day/
https://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/2017/10/10/a-reminder-that-creativity-is-good-for-your-mental-health-on-world-mental-health-day/#respondTue, 10 Oct 2017 08:26:03 +0000http://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/?p=7029]]>Hello! So back in June I wrote a little ditty to big up Creativity and Wellbeing week, but life sometimes smacks you in the face and makes you not want to tell everyone that you have struggled and are now looking back smugly from the other side. Winston Churchill spoke of his black dog of depression, I feel like the brain is a little like a naughty puppy (ok sometimes very naughty one, that can turn your life upside down like an old school toilet paper advert). You have to train it, entertain it, keep it calm or when you are not looking you may end up with a poo in the corner. But it’s World Mental Health Day and the fact that sharing that you aren’t always totally smashing it and that some people, including myself, find making things helps their brain to chill out and heal a bit is still something important.

Creativity has always been an important part of my life however much of the time I was either too inspired or not at all. This made a great deal of sense when I was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder in 2013. I wouldn’t say that drawing and making things got me through that and the very tricky time that led to my diagnosis. This was thanks to the support of the ridiculously amazing people around me and the hard working dudes and dudettes of the NHS. Yet my life wouldn’t feel complete now without making something or letting my brain stray creatively on a daily basis. It is also integral to making my life more than just managing my special brain, by providing a distraction in the process of making and little delights as end results.

To steal the wise words of the people over at Creativity and Wellbeing Week:

‘There is a growing body of evidence indicating the profound effect engagement in the arts and creativity can have on health and wellbeing. The arts bring us alive, nourish our curiosity, help us learn – they change the places in which we are treated – and make them places we might want to be, they can improve the relationship between clinician and patient, and they give us the courage to face our own frailties and strengths.’

I have worked in many media when making art or gifts and always carry a little sketchbook for emergencies (to record ideas/also handy for those who may suffer bothersome thoughts). I made the decision to take up jewellery making in 2014 and love that it combines hard-core metal working skills with making pretty and fun transportable pieces that others seem amused by too. I couldn’t recommend jewellery making enough as an activity and wish I had taken the idea seriously at a younger age. But still, learning ain’t just for kids.

Whatever your go-to helper is in life, may it be running, writing, crafting or climbing (if it isn’t going to damage you or anyone else), look after yourself and that pesky puppy and just do it.

Lil Adams is the London Jewellery School Sundays Studio Manager. Lil studied Fine Art in Leeds and lived in Melbourne before travelling about and settling in London. She now works at the British Architectural Library and enjoys making jewellery with found and natural objects and is shamelessly addicted to casting.

]]>https://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/2017/10/10/a-reminder-that-creativity-is-good-for-your-mental-health-on-world-mental-health-day/feed/0jewelleryschoolOnline Charity Rafflehttps://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/2017/10/05/online-charity-raffle/
https://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/2017/10/05/online-charity-raffle/#respondThu, 05 Oct 2017 12:06:40 +0000http://blog.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/?p=7010]]>Fancy giving to a good cause with a chance to win fabulous Jewellery making prizes? Well yes, obviously, me too.
Here at the Jewellery School we are running an exciting online raffle from now until Sunday 22nd October 2017, for just a pound a ticket to raise money for the victims of Grenfell Tower fire.

Prizes include:

Any 1 Day Class at London Jewellery School (worth up to £140)

Any 3 Taster Classes of your choice (not including the wax carving taster or valentines class)

A Soldering Kit

A Metal Clay Starter Kit

£50 Gift Voucher which can be redeemed against any day or evening class

50% of monies we raise will go to the victims of the Grenfell Tower disaster. Tickets will be randomly selected on Monday 23rd October and winners will be notified by email.